Green amendment to the "101 funding" motions

2nd December 2007

Green Party Cllr Jillian Creasy said: “The 101 scheme cost over £7 million to set up in five pilot areas across the country. The government has announced it is withdrawing further funding before it has even published its report on whether 101 was a success. We think this is a huge waste of money, time and goodwill and will erodes peoples’ confidence in future pilot schemes. We need to beware of ‘pilot-itis’ if we can’t trust government to follow through.”

AMENDMENT RE 101 NUMBER (to items 7 & 8)

For item 7, insert after(c) and renumber accordingly:

For item 8, insert after (e) and renumber accordingly:

1. Notes that the cost of developing and implementing the single
   non-emergency number 101 scheme in the five Wave One areas was £7.47 million, including £1.3 million to publicise the new service;
2. Further notes that there will have been substantial hidden costs of adapting existing systems to dovetail with the new service;
3. Further notes that the public were initially sceptical but are now
   getting used to and appreciating the new service and that its withdrawal will erode their confidence and willingness to take part in future pilots;
4. Further notes that Wave One was to be followed by further waves in other local authorities and the national review due to be carried out this autumn has not been released by the Home Office for comment and consultation;
5. Therefore questions the value of this pilot project as it has not been properly evaluated and believes that withdrawing it now will leave Sheffield in a worse situation than if it had never happened
   

ENDS

For more information, contact Kathy Aston , Press Officer;

Work: (0114) 222 1795
Home: (0114) 231 1548